Local Political News - Early Voting Edition

1. The Democratic YOUTH OUTREACH and voter registration project -Democratic Youth for Action - led by Caleb Estes is underway. Calebhas arranged a "Meet and Greet" table at the University of Houston -Clear Lake on Thursday, May 1 approximately 10:30 am to 2:00 pm tobegin organizing students at UHCL and other local campuses.

Caleb has made all the arrangements with the UHCL administrators andis in contact with a number of candidates to attend Thursday.

NOW, he needs help from local Democrats and activists like YOU tostaff the table and talk to students. Please give him a call toarrange for an hour or more Thursday.

Caleb Estes832-785-0103ChangeisHope@sbcglobal.net

Caleb is also planning events for San Jacinto College campuses.

2. San Jacinto College has a $295 million dollar bond election. New construction of science, health and physical education facilities as well as the renovation of auto and welding technology and the updating of the libraries throughout the central, south and north campuses are all key components of the bond proposal.

I would be in favor of this.

Early Voting: April 28-May 6 Election Day: May 10, 2008

San Jacinto College is also raising the senior and disabled homestead exemption so those owners of average valued homes pay no college district taxes. For others and for homes valued over $105,000 the bond issue would raise taxes by 4 cents per thousand of valuation. All local elections and the College Bond election are at separate locations.

The City will conduct a General Election for Council Positions 4, 5 and 6 and Special Elections for Proposition 1 (proposed 4B Sales Tax) and Propositions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (proposed Charter Amendments) on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at the Deer Park Community Center located at 610 East San Augustine Street from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Early voting will be held at the City Secretary’s office at City Hall, located at 710 East San Augustine from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. April 28 – May 2, and from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. May 5-6.

There are three contested races and a controversial 0.5% sales tax increase on the ballot. Deer Park will, like Pasadena, appoint a development board to oversee how the sales tax money is spent if the proposal passes. Supporters of the sales tax increase point to surrounding communities with higher sales taxes and the possibility of property tax increases if the measure is not approved. Opponents oppose tax increases, oppose there being no plan for how the money will be spent, and oppose the candidates who support the sales tax increase.

4. La Porte general election.

There is a contested election for council member for at-large B. The candidates vying to replace Barry Beasley, who opted not to seek re-election, are Phillip Hoot, Trent Wise and John Black.

5. Texas Democratic Party State Convention will be June 5-7, in Austin. Delegates and alternates will pick delegates to the national convention and state party officials. Many local delegates will be staying at the La Quinta by the airport. I am recommending trying Hotwire.com for discounted hotel rooms or air travel.

6. SD-11 Democrats are having a pre-convention picnic May 25 at Clear Lake Park. Sign up for Yahoo groups SD-11 Democrats for more information.

7. As usual, there is almost no online info on the Pasadena Independent School District Trustee election. Early voting starts Monday at all PISD high schools and goes to May 6. Election day is May 10.

Call 713-740-0243 for info.

8. Pasadena is not having an election, except for the San Jacinto college district bonds. (They do not appear to know about the PISD trustee election.) More info on what is happening in connection with city government can be found here at the website below. The La Porte and Deer Park city sites are also listed.